154



Correspondence , Notes, etc.



perhaps, to the student of skins to be a weak one, although unquestionably

a natural one ; but until careful dissection decides what the actual affinities

of Phonipara are, it would surely be more convenient to keep it separate,

and regard it as a link between the Fringillidce and Ploceidce, than to have

it in a sort of no man’s land vacillating between the Coccothraustince and

Emberizince.


The Sub-family Estiildince is based upon the absence of a distinct

winter plumage in the males. This character is satisfactory enough for

the African species, but it is valueless when one considers that the Indian

Sporceginthus aniandava regularly assumes the female dress every winter.

I have two males, purchased some six or more years ago, which are to all

appearance hen birds now : later they will answer to the description of the

winter plumage in the ‘Catalogue of Birds.’


A. G. Bu'i'bER.



HUMMING BIRDS IN ENGLAND.


Sir, —There is another record ? of Humming Birds having been alive

in England, which I have not yet seen noticed.


In the Library of the Zoological Society are the original drawings by

Hayes, with a manuscript title page as follows :—“Rare and Curious Birds

accurately drawn and beautifully coloured from specimens in the Menagerie

at Osterly Park,” the size is folio and it is dated 1782, although some of the

drawings bear earlier dates than this, and in it are figured three species of

Humming Birds. The volume also contains a few other birds not figured

in his work of 1794. E. A. PORTER.



INSTINCT OR IMITATION.


A correspondent sends me the following letter:—“I should be

extremely obliged for your opinion of the following question, on which I

differ with several members of the Bradford Naturalists’ Society—some

of whom also have a moderate knowledge of aviculture.


They maintain that each species of wild bird that sings or builds

nests exactly copies the nest and sings the same song as its parent by

imitation and tuition.


Now I maintain that it is by heredity (or by instinct if you care to

put it in that way) and therefore that the young bird does not require any

tuition.


My own experience of birds in captivity is confined to about a dozen

specimens at time and time. But I once had a Common Linnet which I

brought up by hand from a very young bird out of the nest.


This bird had no company and no opportunity of hearing the song of

its own species (which are uncommon in this immediate neighbourhood), but

it sang exactly the same notes as the wild Linnet so far as I could tell.


Of course I am aware that birds’ songs can be trained to a certain



